Davutoğlu holds Syria talks in US

WASHINGTON - Anatolia News Agency

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Feb. 12 held a telephone meeting with Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani, prime minister of Qatar, which holds the rotating helm of the Arab League.

 Davutoğlu and al-Thani exchanged views over the Arab League’s Feb. 12 meeting on Syria. Davutoğlu, who is visiting Washington, also held separate phone talks with his Tunisian counterpart Rafik Abdessalem as they discussed the crisis in Syria. Davutoğlu expressed Turkey’s support to a prospective international conference on Syria, which is set to be held in Tunis.

 Davutoğlu was expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Tom Donilon, U.S. president’s national security advisor. Turkish Foreign Minister is expected to depart for Turkey after meeting with Turkish journalists. Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador in London Ünal Çeviköz said a military operation in Syria was not on the agenda of Turkey. “Currently, a military operation is not on the agenda of Turkey or any other countries,” said Çeviköz to BBC on Feb. 12. Çeviköz said armament of rebellious groups was not on the agenda as well.